Park Min-ji has finally reached the 20-win milestone, tying the all-time record on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. She came from behind to win the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open on Sunday, shooting an 8-under 64 in the final round at The Star Hue Golf and Resort (par 72) in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, to finish at 10-under 206.
Park became the third player in KLPGA Tour history to record 20 victories, joining the late Ku Ok-hee and Shin Ji-yai. But she has yet to break into the top 10 of this season's money list. With the 180 million won winner's prize added, Park ranks 12th with 253.06 million won.
Four players without a win this season are ranked higher than Park on the money list. They have posted consistent results but have lacked luck when it comes to lifting trophies.
The top five on the money list are all players who have won at least once this year. Kim Min-sol leads with 376.31 million won, followed by Lee Ye-won (375.73 million won), Bang Shin-sil (363.11 million won), Ko Ji-won (334.99 million won) and Yoo Hyun-jo (331.47 million won), each with one victory.
Kim Min-sun7, winner of the Nexen·Saint Nine Masters, follows at 11th with 255.24 million won, while Jaravee Boonchant of Thailand, who won the E1 Charity Open, sits 14th with 217.68 million won — the lowest ranking among this year's winners. Last year, every player in the top 10 of the money list had at least one win. Park Ji-young, ranked 14th with total earnings of 625.40 million won, was the highest-ranked player without a victory. The question now is whether the four players currently in the top 10 without a win can join this season's champions club. From Lim Jin-young to Park Min-ji, all 10 winners on the KLPGA Tour this year have been different players.
This week, a player without a win surpassed 300 million won in prize money for the first time. Jeon Ye-seong, who finished tied for 46th at the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open, added 5.9 million won to climb to sixth on the money list with 301.47 million won. Back-to-back runner-up finishes at the iM Financial Open and the Nexen·Saint Nine Masters significantly boosted her earnings. Kim Si-hyun, ranked seventh with 276.79 million won, and Park Hyun-kyung, ranked eighth with 275.91 million won, are also among the top 10 in prize money without a victory. Kim, who tied for 14th at the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open, has not missed a single cut in 10 starts this year, with one runner-up finish and two third-place finishes among them. Park collected substantial prize money with two runner-up finishes. Lim Jin-young, winner of the season-opening Rejuran Championship, sits ninth, while Seo Kyo-rim, ranked 10th with 265.74 million won, has yet to taste victory.
